Slide Fastener and Method for Manufacturing Slide Fastener

ABSTRACT

A slide fastener is characterized in that left and right first and second element rows thereof are composed of synthetic resin, with each being dyed a single color having a different spectral reflectance curve from each other. The slide fastener appears colorful and attractive and has an excellent appearance quality since the colors of the first and second element rows can be made to appear more vividly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a slide fastener in which left and right element rows have different colors from each other and a manufacturing method of the slide fastener.

BACKGROUND ART

As a typical example of a fastener stringer for a slide fastener, it is known that a fastener stringer having continuous element rows in which monofilaments made of thermoplastic resin are molded in a coil shape or a zig-zag shape and in which a plurality of fastener elements having coupling head portions are connected in a series, for example.

Such a fastener stringer is generally formed by sewing and fixing the element rows composed of the continuous plural fastener elements to a side edge portion (element attaching portion) of a woven or knitted fastener tape with a sewing thread.

In a slide fastener manufactured by combining a pair of left and right fastener stringers as mentioned above, the element rows of the fastener stringers and the fastener tapes are colored in a desired color in some cases, depending on a color and a design of a fastener-attached product to which the slide fastener is attached.

A generally known method for coloring the element rows of the fastener stringers and the fastener tapes is manufacturing a fastener stringer by sewing element rows to a fastener tape, manufacturing a fastener chain by coupling a pair of the obtained fastener stringers each other, thereafter, winding the fastener chain to a beam for dyeing and conducting a dyeing process by accommodating (immersing) the beam including the wound fastener chain to a dyeing pot.

Another method for coloring the element rows and the fastener tapes is forming a monofilament of a synthetic resin material in which pigment of a desired color is kneaded, molding the monofilament to a continuous element row and conducting a dyeing process to fastener tapes independently so that the fastener elements and the fastener tapes are colored separately. Thereafter, a fastener stringer in which each of the element rows and the fastener tapes show desired colors is manufactured by sewing the obtained fastener elements to the fastener tapes.

Japanese Patent publication JP11-70005 A (Patent Document 1) discloses a fastener chain for a slide fastener in which left and right element rows are respectively colored in multi-colors along a length direction, and showing colorful colors such as a rainbow color.

In the fastener chain disclosed in Patent Document 1, the fastener element is formed of a monofilament made of thermoplastic synthetic fibers such as polyamide or polyester, and the monofilament is colored with several colors of dyes or pigments in a predetermined length at a constant cycle, which expresses colorful colors such as a rainbow color including red, yellow, green, blue and others.

Then, the continuous element row is formed by molding the multiple-colored monofilament so as to wind in a coil shape, and sewing the obtained coil-shaped element rows to a tape side edge portion of the fastener tape, thereby a fastener stringer is manufactured.

In Patent Document 1, the left side element row is colored in multiple colors, and the right side element row is also colored in multiple colors. Therefore, a slide fastener having colorful and beautiful element rows can be finished, which have not been known in the past. Thereby, when the slide fastener is attached to a fastener-attached product such as cloths, patterns of multiple colors can be vividly expressed in an opening portion or an open/close portion of the fastener-attached product.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: JP11-70005 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Recently, slide fasteners attached to various goods, particularly commodities such as cloths, bags and shoes are treated as a design element, and improvement of appearance quality of such products as a whole including a slide fastener has been demanded. For a slide fastener, it is demanded in some cases that element rows and fastener tapes are respectively colored in a desired color, and left and right element rows are respectively colored in a desired color depending on use or design of the fastener-attached products.

However, in coloring the element rows and the fastener tapes, when the fastener chain is manufactured by sewing the fastener element to the fastener tape and thereafter winding the fastener chain to a beam for dyeing and conducting a dyeing process by immersion, as described above, basically the left and right element rows and the left and right fastener tapes are dyed using a same color dye. Therefore, there has been a problem that it is difficult to color the left and right element rows in different colors and to color the element rows and the fastener tapes in different colors.

In order to color the left and right element rows in different colors, it can be considered that, in a state left and right fastener stringers are independent from each other before the left and right element rows are coupled, and not in a state of the fastener chain, each fastener stringer is wound around each beam for dyeing separately, and each dyeing process by immersion is conducted to each of the left and right fastener stringers.

After each of the left and right fastener stringers is dyed in a desired color separately, the colored left and right fastener stringers are combined to manufacture a slide fastener, thereby the slide fastener in which the colors between the left and right element rows are different can be obtained.

However, in a case that each of the left and right fastener stringers is wound around each beam for dyeing separately to conduct the dyeing process, positions of fastener elements in the element row may be displaced, and intervals between adjacent coupling head portions in the tape length direction may vary during the dyeing process. Therefore, comparing to a case of dyeing process by winding a fastener chain in a state that the left and right fastener stringers are coupled around the beam for dyeing, for example, troubles such as deterioration of coupling of the left and right element rows, lowered slidability of a slider, and easiness to bend of the fastener chain when the slide fastener is manufactured.

On the other hand, when element rows are colored in a desired color by kneading pigment to a synthetic resin material at a time of forming a monofilament, for example, it is possible to color the left and right element rows in different colors easily. However, in a case that a coil-shaped fastener element is manufactured by kneading pigment to the synthetic resin material of monofilaments, monofilaments need to be spun per each color. Therefore, small lot manufacturing is difficult, and when one color element row is formed, a lot of monofilaments colored by pigment have to be formed in a unit of 50 to 100 kg to mold a fastener element.

In recent years, however, customers' needs have been varied and individualized, and in order to meet such needs, it is demanded manufacturing products in many kinds and in a small lot as well as responding promptly to the needs and fashion. In contrast, the coloring method of element rows by kneading pigment to synthetic resin materials is premised on mass manufacturing, as mentioned above. Therefore, it is difficult to respond flexibly to the recent needs, and there has been a problem of increased manufacturing cost and late response to the needs and fashion adversely. Further, in a case of coloring element rows by kneading pigment to synthetic resin materials, the element rows to be colored cannot be transparently formed.

Patent Document 1 discloses another fastener chain in which left and right element rows respectively have a colorful color in the length direction by coloring monofilaments with several kinds of dyes or pigments in a predetermined length at a constant cycle, as described above.

However, a specific method to color monofilaments is not explained in detail in Patent Document 1. Further, actually coloring the monofilament with the dye or pigment in several colors by a method of dyeing process by immersion is extremely difficult, and coloring process needs to be conducted using a special coloring apparatus of an ink jet method using pigment-based ink or dye-based ink. Therefore, it may lead to an increased manufacturing cost and lowered manufacturing efficiency of slide fasteners.

Depending on users' taste and fashion, a slide fastener in which left and right element rows are respectively colored in single colors which are different from each other may be requested. Therefore, it has been demanded that the slide fastener having the element rows colored in a single color as the above can be provided at a lower price and more promptly.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the above conventional technique, and a specific object of the invention is to provide a slide fastener in which left and right element rows show respective single colors which are different from each other, and good coupling of the left and right element rows and good slidability of a slider can be stably secured without increasing manufacturing cost or lowering manufacturing efficiency of the slide fastener.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to achieve the above object, a slide fastener provided by the present invention has, as a basic structure, a pair of fastener stringers in which a first element row and a second element row are respectively formed at facing tape side edge portions of a first fastener tape and a second fastener tape, wherein the first element row and the second element row are made of synthetic resin and are respectively dyed in single colors, and the first element row and the second element row have spectral reflectance curves which are different from each other, as the most characteristic feature.

In the slide fastener according to the present invention, it is preferable that the first element row and the second element row are made of synthetic resin having a same main ingredient.

Further, it is preferable that the first element row has a different spectral reflectance curve from the first fastener tape, and the second element row has a different spectral reflectance curve from the second fastener tape.

It is also preferable that in the slide fastener of the present invention, the first element row and the second element row are made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide.

Further, it may be a combination that the first element row is made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide, and the second element row is made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more. Alternatively, the first element row and the second element row may be made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more.

The main characteristic of a manufacturing method of a slide fastener according to the present invention is a manufacturing method of a slide fastener having a pair of fastener stringers in which a first element row and a second element row are respectively formed at facing tape side edge portions of a first fastener tape and a second fastener tape, being characterized in that the method includes dyeing a first monofilament made of synthetic resin in a single color, dyeing a second monofilament made of synthetic resin in a single color which has a different spectral reflectance curve from the first monofilament, molding the first monofilament and the second monofilament to the first element row and the second element row respectively, and sewing the first element row and the second element row to the tape side edge portions of the first fastener tape and the second fastener tape respectively with sewing threads.

The main characteristic of another manufacturing method of a slide fastener according to the present invention is a manufacturing method of a slide fastener having a pair of fastener stringers in which a first element row and a second element row are respectively formed at facing tape side edge portions of a first fastener tape and a second fastener tape, being characterized in that the method includes molding a first monofilament made of synthetic resin to the first element row and dyeing the first element row in a single color, molding a second monofilament made of synthetic resin to the second element row and dyeing the second element row in a single color which has a different spectral reflectance curve from the first element row, and sewing the dyed first element row and the dyed second element row to the tape side edge portions of the first fastener tape and the second fastener tape respectively with sewing threads.

It is preferable that the manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to the present invention includes using polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide as materials of the first element row and the second element row, and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with different dyeing liquid from each other.

The manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to the present invention may include using polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide as a material of the first element row, using polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more as a material of the second element row, and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with the same dyeing liquid.

The manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to the present invention may further include using polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide as a material of the first element row, using polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more as a material of the second element row, and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with different dyeing liquid from each other.

The manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to the present invention may still further include using polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more as materials of the first element row and the second element row, and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with different dyeing liquid from each other.

Effects of the Invention

In the slide fastener according to the present invention, a dyeing process by immersion and the like is directly conducted to monofilaments or element rows (fastener elements, particularly) made of synthetic resin, thereby a left side element row and a right side element row are colored in different single colors and have different spectral reflectance curves from each other without using a special coloring apparatus such as an ink jet method apparatus.

In the slide fastener according to the present invention, the first and the second element rows can stably show colors having different spectral reflectance curves from each other without large increase in manufacturing cost and a significant decrease in manufacturing efficiency of the slide fasteners. In addition, as it is not the case that after the element rows are fixed to the fastener tape by sewing, a dyeing process is conducted to the obtained left and right first and second fastener stringers separately, troubles such as deterioration of coupling between the first and the second element rows, lowered slidability of the slider and easiness to bend of the fastener chain as a result of displacement of the fastener elements due to the dyeing process hardly occurs.

Further, unlike the case of forming the fastener elements by kneading pigment to a synthetic resin material of the monofilament, as mentioned above, the slide fastener of the present invention can be dyed in a desired color after the monofilaments are formed, thereby a small lot manufacturing is possible. Therefore, the present invention can be accommodated to a case that fastener-attached products are produced in many kinds and in a small lot easily, for example, and can correspond to users' needs and fashion promptly.

It should be noted that in the present invention, showing colors having different spectral reflectance curves means that waveforms of spectral reflectance curves obtained by measuring a specific part (an intermediate part between a coupling head portion and a connecting portion in a leg portion of the fastener element, for example) of a fastener element with a spectrophotometer are different in the first element row and in the second element row. In this case, when a first monofilament (monofilament forming the first element row) and a second monofilament (monofilament forming the second element row) just before being molded to the fastener element are measured with a spectrophotometer, a spectral reflectance curve of the first monofilament and a spectral reflectance curve of the second monofilament are naturally different.

In the slide fastener according to the present invention, the first element row and the second element row are formed of synthetic resin having the same main ingredient. Therefore, property, texture and the like of the first and second element rows can be conformed, and quality such as a coupling strength of the slide fastener and slidability of the slider can be stably secured. It should be noted that in the present invention, the first element row and the second element row may be formed of synthetic resin having different main ingredients.

In the slide fastener of the present invention, the first element row can have a color having a different spectral reflectance curve from the first fastener tape. Further, the second element row can have a color having a different spectral reflectance curve from the second fastener tape. Thereby, slide fasteners which have been difficult to be manufactured in a conventional manner or slide fasteners accommodated to users' needs can be provided to a market easily.

In the slide fastener according to the present invention, the first element row and the second element row are formed of monofilaments made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide. Since the first element row and the second element row are formed using monofilaments made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide, it can be possible to have a transparently colored element row which was not be possible in a case of kneading pigment to a synthetic resin material of the monofilament as mentioned above. Thereby, a variety of combinations of left and right element rows having different colors can be increased.

It is also possible that in the slide fastener of the present invention, the first element row is formed of a monofilament made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide, and the second element row is formed of a monofilament made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more.

Since the monofilament is made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more, the color of the monofilament itself can be white. Then, a dyeing process is conducted to the white monofilament, and the color colored to the monofilament can be shown more vividly.

In addition, since the first element row is made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide, the element row is transparently colored, while since the second element row is made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more, the colored color can be vividly expressed. Therefore, a difference of the colors in the first element row and the second element row tends to be shown relatively clearly. Further, a variety of combination of the left and right element rows having different colors can be more increased, and it enables providing a new slide fastener which cannot be manufactured in a conventional manner to the market.

Further, it is also possible that in the slide fastener of the present invention, the first element row and the second element row are formed of monofilaments made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more. Thereby, it is possible to provide a slide fastener in which the first element row and the second element row are dyed in different colors from each other and more vividly to the market.

In a manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to the present invention, a first monofilament made of synthetic resin is dyed in a single color, and a second monofilament made of synthetic resin is separately dyed in another single color having a different spectral reflectance curve from the one of the first monofilament. Thereby, the first monofilament and the second monofilament having different colors from each other can be easily obtained.

Subsequently, the obtained first monofilament and the second monofilament are molded in a coil shape or a zig-zag shape. Thereby, the first element row and the second element row in which a plurality of fastener elements is connected continuously and having different colors from each other are formed.

When the monofilament is colored by immersion dyeing process, and a continuous fastener element is formed by molding the colored monofilament, for example, the color pales, erases or changes partially because a surface of the filament is locally extended at the time of plastic deformation of the monofilament, and appearance quality of the element rows is rather lowered in some cases.

In the present invention, however, when the dyed monofilament is molded to fastener elements, the color can be prevented from erasing or paling, and the element rows having desired colors entirely and stably can be formed by finding appropriate conditions by studying dyeing condition or molding condition of the monofilament.

In the manufacturing method in the present invention, a pair of fastener stringers are formed by sewing the formed first and second element rows to the tape side edge portions of the first and the second fastener tapes, respectively. Thereafter, a slide fastener is manufactured by combining the obtained pair of the fastener stringers and attaching a slider and others.

By using the above-mentioned manufacturing method, a slide fastener in which the first element row and the second element row are respectively dyed in single colors having different spectral reflectance curves from each other can be stably manufactured without a large increase in manufacturing cost. Further, such a manufacturing method can prevent troubles such as deterioration of coupling of the left and right element rows, lowered slidability of the slider and easiness to bend of the fastener chain.

In addition, manufacturing a wide variety of fastener-attached products in small quantities can be accommodated easily, and users' needs and fashion can be promptly responded to.

In another manufacturing method in the present invention, first, a first monofilament made of synthetic resin is molded to a first element row, and the first element row is dyed in a single color. Separately from the first element row, a second element row made of synthetic resin is formed to a second element row, and the second element row is dyed in another single color having a different spectral reflectance curve from the one of the first element row. Thereby, the first element row and the second element row having different colors from each other can be easily formed.

Next, the first and second element rows are respectively sewn to the tape side edge portions of the first and the second fastener tapes with sewing threads to form a pair of fastener stringers. Thereafter, a slide fastener is manufactured by combining the obtained pair of the fastener stringers and attaching a slider and others.

By using the above-mentioned manufacturing method, a slide fastener in which the first element row and the second element row are respectively dyed in single colors having different spectral reflectance curves from each other can be stably manufactured without a large increase in the manufacturing cost.

In this case, after the element rows are molded, dyeing process is conducted to the element rows before they are attached to a fastener tape. Therefore, troubles due to the dyeing process such as deterioration of coupling of the left and right element rows, lowered slidability of the slider and easiness to bend of the fastener chain can be prevented.

In addition, manufacturing a wide variety of fastener-attached products in small quantities can be accommodated easily, and users' needs and fashion can be promptly responded to.

In the above manufacturing method in the present invention, it is possible that the first element row and the second element row are made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide, and the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row are dyed with different dye liquid from each other. Thereby, the first and second element rows having transparently colors can be stably manufactured, and a variety of combination of the left and right element rows having different colors can be more increased.

Further, in the manufacturing method of the present invention, it is possible that the first element row is made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide, the second element row is made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more, and the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row are dyed in the same dye liquid.

Thereby, the first element row can be formed to a transparently colored element row. Further, since the second element row is made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more, the color colored by the dyeing process can be shown more vividly than the color of the first element row.

Therefore, even if the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row are dyed in the same dye liquid, the difference in the color of the first element row and the color of the second element row can be relatively clearly shown, and the slide fastener having the first and second element rows having clearly different colors can be stably manufactured. Further, a variety of combination of the left and right element rows having different colors can be more increased, and it enables providing a new slide fastener which cannot be manufactured in a conventional manner to the market.

It should be noted that in the present invention, dyeing in the same dye liquid includes a case the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row are immersed in the same dye container simultaneously or serially to conduct the dyeing process and a case the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row are respectively immersed in different dye containers containing the same dye liquid to conduct the dyeing process.

Further, in the manufacturing method of the present invention, it is possible that the first element row is made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide, the second element row is made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more, and the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row are dyed with different dye liquid from each other.

Thereby, a slide fastener having the first and second element rows having more-clearly different colors can be stably manufactured. Further, a variety of combination of the left and right element rows having different colors can be more increased, and it enables providing a new slide fastener which cannot be manufactured in a conventional manner to the market.

Additionally, in the manufacturing method of the present invention, it is possible that the first element row and the second element row are made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more, and the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row are dyed with different dye liquid from each other. Thereby, the slide fastener having the first and second element rows dyed in more vivid colors can be stably manufactured, and a variety of combination of the left and right element rows having different colors can be increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a slide fastener according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a part of a first fastener stringer in the slide fastener.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a state that left and right first and second element rows are coupled in the slide fastener.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating a part of a slide fastener according to a modification embodiment of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view explaining a state that an element row is molded from a monofilament, and a core string is inserted into the element row.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating a main part of the first and second fastener stringers in a slide fastener according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating a main part of the first and second fastener stringers in a slide fastener according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention will be described in detail showing embodiments with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments explained as below, and various changes can be made as long as having a substantially same structure and similar functional effects to the present invention.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a slide fastener according to Embodiment 1, FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a part of a first fastener stringer in the slide fastener, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a state that left and right first and second element rows are coupled in the slide fastener. In FIG. 3, a fastener tape is not shown to clearly show a coupling state of the left and right element rows.

In the following descriptions, a front and rear direction is defined as a length direction of a fastener tape and a fastener stringer, and it is the same direction in which a slider slides. Particularly, a direction in which the slider slides so as to couple element rows of the slide fastener is defined as “front direction” and a direction in which the slider slides so as to separate the element rows is defined as “rear direction”.

A left and right direction is defined as a tape width direction of the fastener tape, which is parallel to a tape surface of the fastener tape and perpendicular to the tape length direction. Further, an upper and lower direction is defined as a tape top and bottom direction perpendicular to the tape surface of the fastener tape. Particularly, in a case of a slide fastener having a coil-shaped element row, a direction on a side the element row is attached to the fastener tape is defined as “upper direction” and an opposite direction is referred to as “lower direction”.

The slide fastener 1 of Embodiment 1 in the present invention has a pair of left and right fastener stringers 10 (a first fastener stringer 10 a on the left side and a second fastener stringer 10 b on the right side), stops (first stops) 5 disposed adjacent to element rows 11 (a first element row 11 a on the left side and a second element row 11 b on the right side) at front end portions of the first and second fastener stringers 10 a, 10 b, a separable rear end stop 6 disposed adjacent to the element rows 11 at rear end portions of the first and second fastener stringers 10 a, 10 b and a slider 30 disposed slidably along the element rows 11.

It should be noted that the slide fastener 1 of Embodiment 1 has a main feature in the first and second fastener stringers 10 a, 10 b (particularly the first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b). Therefore, the stops 5, the separable rear end stop 6 and the slider 30 used therein are substantially similar to the ones in the conventional and general slide fasteners.

For example, the stops 5 of Embodiment 1 are attached to the front end portion of the first and second fastener tapes 12 a, 12 b over the tape top surface and the tape bottom surface so as to continue to the element rows 11, and they prevents the slider 30 from dropping from a side of the front end of the element rows 11.

The separable rear end stop 6 of Embodiment 1 has an insert pin 6 a disposed at the rear end portion of the first fastener stringer 10 a on the left side, a box pin 6 b disposed at the rear end portion of the second fastener stringer 10 b on the right side and a box 6 c integrally molded at the rear end portion of the box pin 6 b, and it is configured as a separable rear end stop for right-side insertion.

In the present invention, it is also possible to form a separable rear end stop for left-side insertion by reversing position relations of the insert pin 6 a, the box pin 6 b and the box 6 c in the left and right direction compared to those of Embodiment 1, for example. Alternatively, it is also possible that instead of the separable rear end stop 6, second stops which prevent the slider 30 from dropping from a side of the rear end of the element rows 11 are attached over the left and right first and second fastener stringers 10 a, 10 b.

The slider 30 of Embodiment 1 has a slider body 31 and a tab 32 provided with an attaching axis portion at one end portion, and the tab 32 is rotatably held at the slider body 31 centering the attaching axis portion. The slider body 31 has an upper blade 31 a, a lower blade, a guide post connecting front end portions of the upper blade 31 a and the lower blade, an upper flange portion erecting on left and right side edge portions of the upper blade 31 a and a tab attaching post 31 b provided on an upper surface of the upper blade 31 a.

Left and right shoulder openings are formed at a front end of the slider body 31 interposing the guide post, and a rear opening is formed at a rear end of the slider body 31. An approximately Y-shaped element guide passage is formed between the upper blade 31 a and the lower blade so as to connect the left and right shoulder openings and the rear opening. Further, a tape penetration gap is formed between the upper flange portion disposed at left and right side portions of the slider body 31 and the lower blade through which a fastener tape 12 can penetrate.

The first fastener stringer 10 a on the left side and the second fastener stringer 10 b on the right side of Embodiment 1 respectively have a fastener tape 12 (a first fastener tape 12 a on the left side or a second fastener tape 12 b on the right side) and an element row 11 (a first element row 11 a on the left side or a second element row 11 b on the right side) disposed along facing tape side edge portions of the fastener tapes 12. The first element row 11 a on the left side has a first color (e.g. blue) and the first element row 11 a on the right side has a second color (e.g. aqua blue) different from the first color.

In the slide fastener 1 of Embodiment 1, the fastener stringer 10, the fastener tape 12, the element row 11 and a monofilament 13 forming the element row 11 disposed on the left side in a plan view are referred to as the first fastener stringer 10 a, the first fastener tape 12 a, the first element row 11 a and the first monofilament 13 a, respectively. The fastener stringer 10, the fastener tape 12, the element row 11 and a monofilament 13 forming the element row 11 disposed on the right side are referred to as the second fastener stringer 10 b, the second fastener tape 12 b, the second element row 11 b and the second monofilament 13 b, respectively.

The left and right first and second fastener tapes 12 a, 12 b of Embodiment 1 are woven in a narrow band shape using synthetic fibers dyed in a desired third color (e.g. yellow) which is different from the above-mentioned first and second colors. The first and second fastener tapes 12 a, 12 b respectively have a tape main body portion as a part to be sewn to a fastener-attached product such as cloths and bags and a tape side edge portion (also referred to as an element attaching portion) disposed on a side edge side of the tape main body portion and to which the element row 11 is attached.

Although both of the first and the second fastener tapes 12 a, 12 b of Embodiment 1 have the third color dyed in a dyeing process, the color of the fastener tape 12 is not particularly limited in the present invention. The first fastener tape 12 a on the left side and the second fastener tape 12 b on the right side may have different colors from each other, as shown in FIG. 4.

In this case, the color of the first fastener tape 12 a on the left side is different from the first color of the first element row 11 a, and the color of the second fastener tape 12 b on the right side is different from the second color of the second element row 11 b. Further, it is possible to add a desired pattern randomly at the tape top surface or the tape bottom surface of the first and second fastener tapes 12 a, 12 b.

Although the first and second fastener tapes 12 a, 12 b of Embodiment 1 are formed of a woven structure, a shape of the fastener tape 12 in the present invention is not particularly limited. A material and a thickness of warps and wefts forming the fastener tape 12 can be randomly determined. The fastener tape 12 can be also formed of a knitted structure.

The left and right first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b are respectively formed by connecting a plurality of fastener elements 15 in a coil shape continuously and respectively sewn to the tape side edge portions of the first and second fastener tapes 12 a, 12 b by multi-thread chain stitches of sewing threads 14 (a first sewing thread 14 a on the left side or a second sewing thread 14 b on the right side) in a state that a core string 16 is penetrated between an upper leg portion 15 b and a lower leg portion, as described later, of each fastener element 15. Alternatively, it is also possible that the first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b are respectively sewn to the first and second fastener tapes 12 a, 12 b without using the core strings 16.

Each fastener element 15 has a coupling head portion 15 a, the upper leg portion 15 b and the lower leg portion extending from the coupling head portion 15 a in the tape width direction and a connecting portion 15 c extending from the upper leg portion 15 b or the lower leg portion and connecting to an adjacent fastener element 15 in the fastener length direction. In the present invention, among the upper and lower leg portions extending from the coupling head portion 15 a of the fastener element 15, the lower leg portion is a leg portion on a side which the fastener tape 12 directly contacts, and the upper leg portion 15 b is a leg portion on a side which is disposed away from the fastener tape 12.

The coupling head portion 15 a of the fastener element 15 is formed in the upper and lower direction over the upper leg portion 15 b and the lower leg portion, and has a part bulging in the front and rear direction at a middle part in the top and bottom direction. The upper leg portion 15 b extends from the coupling head portion 15 a in the fastener width direction and is disposed on an upper side of the core string 16. The lower leg portion extends from the coupling head portion 15 a in the fastener width direction and substantially parallel to the upper leg portion 15 b, and is disposed between the core string 16 and the fastener tape 12.

The connecting portion 15 c connects the upper leg portion 15 b of each fastener element 15 and the lower leg portion of a fastener element 15 adjacent to a front side of the fastener element 15 (in other words, it connects the lower leg portion of each fastener element 15 and the upper leg portion 15 b of a fastener element 15 adjacent to a rear side of the fastener element 15).

In Embodiment 1, the first element row 11 a on the left side is formed by dyeing the transparent first monofilament 13 a made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide in a single first color (e.g. blue) which is different from the third color of the first fastener tape 12 a on the left side, and molding the dyed first monofilament 13 a in a coil shape.

The second element row 11 b on the right side is formed by dyeing the transparent second monofilament 13 b made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide in a single second color (e.g. aqua blue) which is different from the third color of the second fastener tape 12 b on the right side as well as the first color of the first element row 11 a on the left side, and molding the dyed second monofilament 13 b in a coil shape.

In this manner, by dissimilating the first color which the first element row 11 a on the left side has and the second color which the second element row 11 b on the right side has, dissimilating the first color which the first element row 11 a has and the third color which the first fastener tape 12 a has, and dissimilating the second color which the second element row 11 b has and the third color which the second fastener tape 12 b has, the color of the slide fastener 1 is more vivid, and appearance quality of the slide fastener 1 and appearance quality of final products manufactured by attaching the slide fastener 1 to fastener-attached products can be enhanced effectively.

Here, dissimilating the first to third colors means that each waveform of the spectral reflectance curves obtained by measuring the first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b (or the first and second monofilament 13 a, 13 b) and the fastener tapes 12 with a spectrophotometer is different from each other.

Particularly in a case of measuring spectral reflectance curves of the first element row 11 a and the second element row 11 b with a spectrophotometer, identity and difference between the color of the first element row 11 a and the color of the second element row 11 b is judged by measuring the spectral reflectance curves at a specific part of the fastener element 15 such as an intermediate part between the coupling head portion 15 a and the connecting portion 15 c in the upper leg portion 15 b of the fastener element 15, and comparing the spectral reflectance curves measured at the specific part.

It should be noted that, for example, in a case that the first element row 11 a and the second element row 11 b are formed of transparent monofilaments 13 as in Embodiment 1, when the spectral reflectance curves are measured with a spectrophotometer, waveforms of the spectral reflectance curves may be influenced by light penetrating the transparent element row 11 (or monofilament 13) and reflecting at a background behind the element row 11 (or the monofilament 13).

Therefore, when identity and difference is judged between the first element row 11 a and the second element row 11 b in a case that at least one of the first element row 11 a or the second element row 11 b is transparent, two kinds of backgrounds are prepared, for example, and spectral reflectance curves of the first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b (or the first and second monofilaments 13 a, 13 b) are measured with a spectrophotometer for each background. If the spectral reflectance curves of the first element row 11 a and the second element row 11 b (or the first monofilament 13 a and the second monofilament 13 b) are different from each other in one of the backgrounds, the color of the first element row 11 a and the color of the second element row 11 b are judged to be different from each other.

In Embodiment 1, in a case that identity and difference is judged among the first color of the first element row 11 a, the second color of the second element row 11 b and the third color of the fastener tape 12, identity and difference among the first to the third colors (particularly identity and difference between the first color and the second color) can be easily judged by deriving RGB values of each part from the measured spectral reflectance curves and comparing the obtained RGB values.

In this case, each RGB value in the first to the third colors can be analyzed by a photo of the fastener tapes 12 and the first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b taken by a digital camera. If the RGB values of each part analyzed from the photo are different, the spectral reflectance curves measured at each part with a spectrophotometer are naturally different.

Particularly, when comparing the RGB value of the first element row 11 a and the RGB value of the second element row 11 b which are analyzed from the photo, it is preferable to compare the RGB values respectively at a specific part such as an intermediate part between the coupling head portion 15 a and the connecting portion 15 c in the upper leg portion 15 b of the fastener element 15, similar to a case measured with a spectrophotometer. Identity and difference of the colors can be judged by comparing the RGB values in each of the first to the third colors to which a color reduction process is conducted.

In the left and right first and second fastener stringers 10 a, 10 b in Embodiment 1, sewing threads 14 (a first sewing thread 14 a on the left side and a second sewing thread 14 b on the right side) with which each element row 11 is sewn to the fastener tape 12 are formed in opaque and shows a fourth color (e.g. black) which is different from the first color of the first element row 11 a, the second color of the second element row 11 b and the third color of the fastener tape 12. It should be noted that the sewing threads 14 sewing the element rows 11 can be formed in transparent, or can be used without being colored by a dyeing process etc.

Although left and right core strings 16 in Embodiment 1 are not dyed, the core strings 16 can be colored in an arbitrary color in the present invention. The core strings 16 can be dyed in the same color as the above-mentioned first to fourth colors, or in a different color from the first to the fourth colors.

Next, a method for manufacturing a slide fastener 1 of Embodiment 1 is explained. A first monofilament 13 a and a second monofilament 13 b made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide are manufactured by a melt spinning at a predetermined length respectively. Apart from the first and the second monofilaments 13 a, 13 b, left and right first and second fastener tapes 12 a, 12 b are woven using synthetic fibers dyed in the third color.

Then, the manufactured first monofilament 13 a is wound around a beam for dyeing, and a dyeing process is conducted to the first monofilament 13 a in a predetermined dyeing condition. In the dyeing process of the first monofilament 13 a, the first monofilament 13 a including the beam is immersed in a dye container in which predetermined dye liquid is contained, and the entire first monofilament 13 a is dyed in a single first color.

Also, the manufactured second monofilament 13 b is wound around a beam for dyeing, and a dyeing process is conducted separately from the dyeing process of the first monofilament 13 a in a predetermined dyeing condition. In the dyeing process of the second monofilament 13 b, the second monofilament 13 b including the beam is immersed in a dye container in which predetermined dye liquid different from the dye liquid for the first monofilament 13 a is contained, and the entire second monofilament 13 b is dyed in a single second color.

Subsequently, the first monofilament 13 a dyed uniformly in the first color is supplied to an element molding apparatus, and an element molding process which molds a first element row 11 a is conducted under a predetermined molding condition. In the element molding process, a coupling head portion 15 a is molded by a stamping molding which presses the first monofilament 13 a locally at predetermined intervals, and the first element row 11 a is formed by molding the first monofilament 13 a in a coil shape.

The first element row 11 a uniformly colored in the first color by the dyeing process can be formed stably without being erased or paled by such an element molding process. Further, regarding the second monofilament 13 b, an element molding process similar to that for the first monofilament 13 a is conducted under a predetermined molding condition, and the second element row 11 b uniformly colored in the second color is formed.

As mentioned above, in Embodiment 1, the first and second monofilaments 13 a, 13 b are dyed by a dyeing process, and thereafter, the element molding process is conducted to the dyed first and second monofilaments 13 a, 13 b, thereby the first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b colored in a predetermined color respectively and having spectral reflectance curves different from each other are formed.

In the present invention, however, it is also possible that before the dyeing process is conducted to the first and second monofilaments 13 a, 13 b, the element molding process is conducted to the first and second monofilaments 13 a, 13 b to form the first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b, and the first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b are immersed in dye containers with dye liquid respectively and dyed, thereby the first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b colored in a predetermined color respectively are formed.

Subsequently, in Embodiment 1, after the dyed first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b are formed, as mentioned above, core strings 16 are penetrated between the upper leg portions 15 b and the lower leg portions of the obtained first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b, respectively, and the first element row 11 a and the second element row 11 b are coupled with each other, as shown in FIG. 5, for example. Further, the first element row 11 a and the second element row 11 b in which the core strings are penetrated respectively and which are coupled with each other are sewn to a tape side edge portion of the first fastener tape 12 a and a tape side edge portion of the second fastener tape 12 b, respectively, by multi-thread chain stitches of sewing threads 14.

Thereby, a first fastener stringer 10 a on the left side and a second fastener stringer 10 b on the right side are manufactured (in this case, a fastener chain in a state that the first element row 11 a and the second element row 11 b are coupled is manufactured).

Thereafter, a slider 30 is attached to the first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b of the obtained first and second fastener stringers 10 a, 10 b, and stops 5 and a separable rear end stop 6 are formed on the first and second fastener stringers 10 a, 10 b, thereby a slide fastener 1 of Embodiment 1 as shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured.

In the slide fastener 1 of Embodiment 1 manufactured as above, the first element row 11 a on the left side and the second element row 11 b on the right side are made of the same polyethylene terephthalate, have single colors uniformly which are different from each other, and have different spectral reflectance curves.

In this case, it can be prevented that the colors colored to the first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b by the dyeing process are erased or paled in manufacturing the slide fastener. Further, troubles such as deterioration of coupling of the left and right first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b, lowered slidability of the slider 30 and easiness to bend of the fastener chain in the tape width direction.

In the slide fastener 1 of Embodiment 1, the left and right first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b are formed of colored transparent monofilaments 13. Therefore, the respective element rows 11 a, 11 b have tinges of colors different from each other and seem to shine brilliantly. Further, in addition to the colors of the left and right first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b being different, the color of the first element row 11 a on the left side is different from the color of the first fastener tape 12 a on the left side, as well as the color of the second element row 11 b on the right side is different from the color of the second fastener tape 12 b on the right side. Therefore, the slide fastener 1 of Embodiment 1 looks colorful and attractive, and is excellent in appearance quality.

Particularly, in Embodiment 1, the left and right first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b are colored not by an ink jet method but by the dyeing process by immersion to dye liquid which is relatively easy. Therefore, the slide fastener 1 excellent in appearance quality can be manufactured efficiently at a low cost.

Further, the slide fastener 1 in Embodiment 1 having the left and right first and second element rows 11 a, 11 b with different colors can be manufactured in a small lot, unlike from a case that a fastener element is formed by kneading pigment to a synthetic resin material of a monofilament, in a conventional manner. Therefore, manufacturing a wide variety of fastener-attached products in small quantities can be accommodated easily, and users' needs and fashion can be promptly responded to.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the main part of the first and second fastener stringers in a slide fastener of Embodiment 2.

In the slide fastener 2 of Embodiment 2, a second element row 21 b on the right side and a second sewing thread 24 b with which the second element row 21 b are sewn to the second fastener tape 12 b on the right side are different from the case of Embodiment 1, however, other members and parts are formed to be substantially same as those of the slide fastener 1 in the above mentioned Embodiment 1. Accordingly, in Embodiment 2, the parts and members having substantially same as those of the slide fastener 1 of Embodiment 1 will not be described in detail but represented by the same reference numerals.

Similar to the first fastener stringer 10 a on the left side of Embodiment 1, the first element row 11 a is sewn to the tape side edge portion of the first fastener tape 12 a by the multi-thread chain stitches of the first sewing threads 14 a in a state that the core string 16 is penetrated between the upper and lower leg portions in the first fastener stringer 10 a on the left side in Embodiment 2.

Meanwhile, in the second fastener stringer 20 b on the right side in Embodiment 2, a second element row 21 b showing a different appearance from the second element row 11 b in Embodiment 1 is sewn to the tape side edge portion of the second fastener tape 12 b by the multi-thread chain stitches of the second sewing threads 24 b in a state that the core string 16 is penetrated between the upper leg portions 15 b and the lower leg portions.

The second element row 21 b of Embodiment 2 is formed by dyeing a white second monofilament 23 b made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more in a single second color (e.g. aqua blue) which is different from the first color of the first element row 11 a on the left side as well as different from the third color of the second fastener tape 12 b, and molding the dyed second monofilament 23 b in a coil shape.

Since the content of titanium oxide contained in the second monofilament 23 b in Embodiment 2 is 0.3 wt % or more, the second monofilament 23 b can be opaque, and the color of the second monofilament 23 b itself can be clear white.

Thus spun second monofilament 23 b is formed in white, thereby when the second monofilament 23 b is dyed in the second color by a dyeing process, the colored second color can be shown more vividly on the white color, compared with the case the transparent second monofilament 13 b is dyed, as in the above mentioned Embodiment 1. In this case, the content of titanium oxide contained in the second monofilament 23 b is preferably set at 1.0 wt % or less in order to secure a strength of the second element row 21 b properly.

In conventional methods, when a dyeing process is conducted to fastener tapes and element rows in a state of a fastener chain by winding the fastener chain to a beam for dyeing, titanium oxide is contained in polyester which forms the element rows at an extremely small amount of less than 0.1 wt % in some cases.

Containing the extremely small amount of titanium oxide in polyester enables to form monofilaments themselves in pale white (in other words, in a white and opaque state), and expression of colors of the dyed element rows can be improved a little. However, in the conventional dyeing process, the fastener tapes and the element rows are dyed in a state of a fastener chain (in other words, in a state of bent element rows due to the monofilament being molded in a coil shape), the dyed element rows have color irregularity in some cases.

Therefore, in the conventional method, if the content of titanium oxide in a monofilament is 0.1 wt % or more, the monofilament is formed in white more clearly, and expression of colors can be more vividly. However, when the color irregularity occurs, the white color of the monofilament itself can be easily acknowledged from an outside, and as a result, the color irregularity caused by dyeing can be easily distinguished, which rather lowers appearance quality of the slide fastener in some cases. Therefore, in the conventional dyeing process of dyeing the fastener chain, the content of titanium oxide in the monofilament is not set at 0.1 wt % or more for the purpose of expression of vivid colors.

In contrast, in Embodiment 2, the second monofilament 23 b is wound around the beam for dyeing in a linear state which is not bent before being molded to the second element row 21 b in a coil shape, and the dyeing process of the second monofilament 23 b is conducted. Therefore, color irregularity is less likely to occur to the dyed second monofilament 23 b.

Accordingly, even if the content of titanium oxide in the second monofilament 23 b is 0.3 wt % or more, and the dyeing process is conducted to the second monofilament 23 b formed in clear white, the white color of the second monofilament 23 b itself caused by the color irregularity can be prevented from being acknowledged from an outside, and the color of the dyed second monofilament 23 b can be expressed more vividly.

Further, in Embodiment 2, the first sewing thread 14 a with which the first element row 11 a on the left side is sewn to the first fastener tape 12 a shows a fourth color which is different from the first color of the first element row 11 a, the second color of the second element row 21 b and the third color of the fastener tape 12. Further, the second sewing thread 24 b with which the second element row 21 b on the right side is sewn to the second fastener tape 12 b shows a fifth color which is different from the above mentioned first to fourth colors. Thereby, the slide fastener 2 of Embodiment 2 can be shown more vividly.

When the slide fastener 2 in Embodiment 2 is manufactured, first, a first monofilament 13 a made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide and a white second monofilament 23 b made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more are manufactured by melt spinning at a predetermined length, respectively.

Next, the first monofilament 13 a is dyed in a single first color, similar to the case of Embodiment 1. Further, the second monofilament 23 b is dyed in a single second color by winding the second monofilament 23 b to a beam for dyeing and immersing the second monofilament 23 b including the beam in a dye container in which predetermined dye liquid which is different from the dye liquid of the first monofilament 13 a is contained.

Subsequently, an element molding process is conducted to the dyed first and second monofilaments 13 a, 23 b, and the first and second element rows 11 a, 21 b which are colored in the first and second colors respectively and have spectral reflectance curves different from each other are formed. Thereafter, the obtained first and second element rows 11 a, 21 b in a state of coupling are respectively sewn to tape side edge portions of the first and second fastener tapes 12 a, 12 b by multi-thread chain stitches of the sewing threads 14.

Thereby, the first fastener stringer 10 a on the left side and the second fastener stringer 20 b on the right side are manufactured. After that, a slider is attached to, and stops and a separable rear end stop are formed on the obtained first and second fastener stringers 10 a, 20 b, thereby the slide fastener 2 of Embodiment 2 is manufactured.

In the slide fastener 2 according to Embodiment 2, the first element row 11 a on the left side and the second element row 21 b on the right side are made of the same polyethylene terephthalate, as the main ingredient, and have single colors uniformly which are colored by the dyeing process of the monofilament 13 and are different from each other.

In this case, the colors colored by the dyeing process to the first and second element rows 11 a, 21 b can be prevented from being erased or paled when a slide fastener is manufactured. Further, troubles such as deterioration of coupling of the left and right first and second element rows 11 a, 21 b, lowered slidability of the slider 30 and easiness to bend of the fastener chain in the tape width direction do not occur.

Further, in the slide fastener 2 of Embodiment 2, the first element row 11 a on the left side is colored to shine brilliantly by dyeing the transparent monofilament 13, while the second element row 21 b on the right side is colored so that the color shows up by dyeing the white second monofilament 23 b. Therefore, due to the synergy of the left and right first and second element rows 11 a, 21 b, a difference in appearance between the first and second element rows 11 a, 21 b can be clearly shown, and new appearance quality which cannot be seen in a conventional method can be obtained.

The slide fastener 2 of Embodiment 2 is colored by the dyeing process by immersion to the dye liquid, similar to the slide fastener 1 of the above mentioned Embodiment 1. Therefore, the slide fastener 2 excellent in appearance quality can be manufactured efficiently at a low cost. Further, a small lot manufacturing is possible, and manufacturing a wide variety of fastener-attached products in small quantities can be accommodated easily, and users' needs and fashion can be promptly responded to.

In Embodiment 2, in manufacturing the first and second fastener stringers 10 a, 20 b, the first and second element rows 11 a, 21 b having spectral reflectance curves different from each other are formed by using different dye liquid when the first and second monofilaments 13 a, 23 b are dyed.

However, the first monofilament 13 a of Embodiment 2 is made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide and is transparent, while the second monofilament 23 b is made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more and in white.

Accordingly, when the dyeing process is conducted to the first and second monofilaments 13 a, 23 b, it is also possible to form the first and second element rows 11 a, 21 b having spectral reflectance curves different from each other by using the same dye liquid instead of different dye liquid to the first and second monofilaments 13 a, 23 b, as mentioned above.

In this case, in the dyeing process of the first and second monofilaments 13 a, 23 b, the first monofilament 13 a and the second monofilament 23 b can be dyed with the same dye liquid by winding the first monofilament 13 a and the second monofilament 23 b to the same or different beams for dyeing and immersing the first monofilament 13 a and the second monofilament 23 b simultaneously including the beams in dye containers in which single dye liquid is contained. Thereby, the first and second element rows 11 a, 21 b having different appearance can be obtained.

Further, in a case that the first monofilament 13 a and the second monofilament 23 b are wound around different beams for dyeing respectively, it is also possible that the first monofilament 13 a and the second monofilament 23 b are dyed by immersing them serially in a dye container in which single dye liquid is contained.

Further, in a case that the first and second monofilaments 13 a, 23 b are dyed using the same dye liquid, it is also possible to conduct the dyeing process by winding the first monofilament 13 a and the second monofilament 23 b to respective beams for dyeing, preparing different dye containers in which the same dye liquid is contained, and immersing the first monofilament 13 a and the second monofilament 23 b in the different dye containers respectively.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the main part of the first and second fastener stringers in a slide fastener of Embodiment 3.

In the slide fastener 3 of Embodiment 3, a first element row 21 a on the left side and a first sewing thread 24 a with which the first element row 21 a are sewn to the fastener tape 12 b on the left side are different from the case of Embodiment 2, however, other members and parts are formed to be substantially same as those of the slide fastener 2 in the above mentioned Embodiment 2. Accordingly, in Embodiment 3, parts and members having substantially same as those of the slide fasteners 1,2 of Embodiments 1,2 will not be described but represented by the same reference numerals.

In the second fastener stringer 20 b on the right side in Embodiment 3, similar to the second fastener stringer 20 b on the right side in the above mentioned Embodiment 2, a second element row 21 b formed of a white second monofilament 23 b made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more is sewn to a side edge portion of the second fastener tape 12 b by multi-thread chain stitches of the second sewing threads 24 b in a state that a core string 16 is penetrated between upper leg portions 15 b and lower leg portions.

Unlike the first fastener stringers 10 a in Embodiments 1 and 2, in the first fastener stringer 20 a on the left side in Embodiment 3, the first element row 21 a formed of white first monofilament 23 a made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more is sewn to the tape side edge portion of the first fastener tape 12 a by the multi-thread chain stitches of the first sewing threads 24 a in a state that the core string 16 is penetrated between upper leg portions 15 b and lower leg portions.

The first element row 21 a in Embodiment 3 is formed by dyeing the white first monofilament 23 a made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more in a single first color (e.g. blue) which is different from the second color of the second element row 21 b on the right side and the third color of the first fastener tape 12 a, and by molding the dyed first monofilament 23 a in a coil shape. In this case, it is preferable that a content of titanium oxide contained in the first monofilament 23 a is set at 1.0 wt % or less in order to secure a strength of the first element row 21 a appropriately, similar to a case of the second monofilament 23 b.

Further, in Embodiment 3, the first sewing threads 24 a with which the first element row 21 a is sewn to the first fastener tape 12 a on the left side shows a sixth color which is different from the first color of the first element row 21 a, the second color of the second element row 21 b, the third color of the fastener tape 12 and the fifth color of the second sewing threads 24 b.

When such a slide fastener 3 in Embodiment 3 is manufactured, white first and second monofilaments 23 a, 23 b made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more are manufactured by melt spinning.

Subsequently, a dyeing process is conducted to the first and second monofilaments 23 a, 23 b by winding the first and second monofilaments 23 a, 23 b around a beam for dyeing respectively, preparing separate dye containers in which predetermined dye liquid different from each other is contained, and immersing the first monofilament 23 a and the second monofilament 23 b in the dye containers respectively.

Next, an element molding process is conducted to the dyed first and second monofilaments 23 a, 23 b to form the first and second element rows 21 a, 21 b. Thereafter, the obtained first and second element rows 21 a, 21 b are sewn to tape side edge portions of the first and second fastener tapes 12 a, 12 b, thereby the first and second fastener stringers 20 a, 20 b are manufactured. Further, a slider is attached to, and stops and a separable rear end stop are formed on the obtained first and second fastener stringers 20 a, 20 b, thereby the slide fastener 3 of Embodiment 3 is manufactured.

In the slide fastener 3 of Embodiment 3, as mentioned above, the first element row 21 a on the left side and the second element row 21 b on the right side are made of the same polyethylene terephthalate and have single colors which are different from each other colored by a dyeing process of white first and second monofilaments 23 a, 23 b. Accordingly, the slide fastener 3 of Embodiment 3 is colorful, attractive and excellent in appearance quality because each color of the first and second element rows 21 a, 21 b can be shown vividly.

The slide fastener 3 of Embodiment 3 is colored by the dyeing process by immersion to the dye liquid, similar to the cases of the above mentioned Embodiments 1 and 2. Therefore, the slide fastener 3 excellent in appearance quality can be manufactured efficiently at a low cost. Further, a small lot manufacturing is possible, and manufacturing a wide variety of fastener-attached products in small quantities can be accommodated, and users' needs and fashion can be promptly responded to.

In the above mentioned Embodiments 1 to 3, the left and right element rows of the slide fastener are formed by molding the monofilaments in a coil shape. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the element rows can be formed by molding the monofilaments in a zig-zag shape.

Alternatively, the element rows of the present invention may be formed integrally with the fastener tape by being attached to the tape side edge portions of the fastener tape by injection molding in a predetermined shape. In this case, each fastener element which is injection-molded becomes an independent fastener element separately formed from the fastener elements adjacent in the length direction in the element row.

Further, the element row of the present invention may be formed by fastener elements being attached to a string-shaped connecting member, for example, in a predetermined shape by injection molding. In this case, the element rows having the plurality of fastener elements and the string-shaped connecting member which connects them are sewn to the tape side edge portions of the fastener tape with sewing threads after the dyeing process is conducted, thereby a fastener stringer is formed.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1, 2, 3: SLIDE FASTENER     -   5: STOP (FIRST STOP)     -   6: SEPARABLE REAR END STOP     -   6 a: INSERT PIN     -   6 b: BOX PIN     -   6 c: BOX     -   10: FASTENER STRINGER     -   10 a: FIRST FASTENER STRINGER     -   10 b: SECOND FASTENER STRINGER     -   11: ELEMENT ROW     -   11 a: FIRST ELEMENT ROW     -   11 b: SECOND ELEMENT ROW     -   12: FASTENER TAPE     -   12 a: FIRST FASTENER TAPE     -   12 b: SECOND FASTENER TAPE     -   13: MONOFILAMENT     -   13 a: FIRST MONOFILAMENT     -   13 b: SECOND MONOFILAMENT     -   14: SEWING THREAD     -   14 a: FIRST SEWING THREAD     -   14 b: SECOND SEWING THREAD     -   15: FASTENER ELEMENT     -   15 a: COUPLING HEAD PORTION     -   15 b: UPPER LEG PORTION     -   15 c: CONNECTING PORTION     -   16: CORE STRING     -   20 a: FIRST FASTENER STRINGER     -   20 b: SECOND FASTENER STRINGER     -   21 a: FIRST ELEMENT ROW     -   21 b: SECOND ELEMENT ROW     -   23 a: FIRST MONOFILAMENT     -   23 b: SECOND MONOFILAMENT     -   24 a: FIRST SEWING THREAD     -   24 b: SECOND SEWING THREAD     -   30: SLIDER     -   31: SLIDER BODY     -   31 a: UPPER BLADE     -   31 b: TAB ATTACHING POST     -   32: TAB 

1. A slide fastener comprising a pair of fastener stringers in which a first element row and a second element row are respectively formed at facing tape side edge portions of a first fastener tape and a second fastener tape, being characterized in that the first element row and the second element row are made of synthetic resin and are respectively dyed in single colors, and the first element row and the second element row have spectral reflectance curves which are different from each other.
 2. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the first element row and the second element row are made of synthetic resin having a same main ingredient.
 3. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the first element row has a different spectral reflectance curve from the first fastener tape, and the second element row has a spectral reflectance curve which is different from the one of the second fastener tape.
 4. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the first element row and the second element row are made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide.
 5. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the first element row is made of polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide, and the second element row is made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more.
 6. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the first element row and the second element row are made of polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more.
 7. A manufacturing method of a slide fastener having a pair of fastener stringers in which a first element row and a second element row are respectively formed at facing tape side edge portions of a first fastener tape and a second fastener tape, wherein the method includes dyeing a first monofilament made of synthetic resin in a single color, dyeing a second monofilament made of synthetic resin in a single color which has a different spectral reflectance curve from the first monofilament, molding the first monofilament and the second monofilament to the first element row and the second element row respectively, and sewing the first element row and the second element row to the tape side edge portions of the first fastener tape and the second fastener tape respectively with sewing threads.
 8. A manufacturing method of a slide fastener having a pair of fastener stringers in which a first element row and a second element row are respectively formed at facing tape side edge portions of a first fastener tape and a second fastener tape, wherein the method includes molding a first monofilament made of synthetic resin to the first element row and dyeing the first element row in a single color, molding a second monofilament made of synthetic resin to the second element row and dyeing the second element row in a single color which has a different spectral reflectance curve from the first element row, and sewing the dyed first element row and the dyed second element row at the tape side edge portions of the first fastener tape and the second fastener tape respectively with sewing threads.
 9. The manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to claim 7, wherein the method includes using polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide as materials of the first element row and the second element row, and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with different dyeing liquid from each other.
 10. The manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to claim 7, wherein the method includes using polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide as a material of the first element row, using polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more as a material of the second element row, and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with the same dyeing liquid.
 11. The manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to claim 7, wherein the method includes using polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide as a material of the first element row, using polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more as a material of the second element row, and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with the different dyeing liquid from each other.
 12. The manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to claim 7, wherein the method includes using polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more as materials of the first element row and the second element row and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with different dyeing liquid from each other.
 13. The manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to claim 8, wherein the method includes using polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide as materials of the first element row and the second element row, and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with different dyeing liquid from each other.
 14. The manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to claim 8, wherein the method includes using polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide as a material of the first element row, using polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more as a material of the second element row, and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with the same dyeing liquid.
 15. The manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to claim 8, wherein the method includes using polyethylene terephthalate not containing titanium oxide as a material of the first element row, using polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more as a material of the second element row, and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with the different dyeing liquid from each other.
 16. The manufacturing method of the slide fastener according to claim 8, wherein the method includes using polyethylene terephthalate containing titanium oxide at 0.3 wt % or more as materials of the first element row and the second element row and dyeing the first monofilament or the first element row and the second monofilament or the second element row with different dyeing liquid from each other. 